Military spending, per capita in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military spending, per capita was 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
7th
of 171 countries
All-time high
19,220 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1991
All-time low
336.95 constant 2022 US$ per person
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Military spending, per capita in Kuwait, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2022 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per capita in Kuwait is 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Kuwait peaked at 19,220 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 336.95 constant 2022 US$ per person, in 1961.
That places Kuwait 7th out of 171 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending, per capita in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 336.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | — |
| 1962 | 358.35 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 354.75 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 426.69 constant 2022 US$ per person | +20.3% |
| 1965 | 447.5 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 466.3 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 867.65 constant 2022 US$ per person | +86.1% |
| 1968 | 993.17 constant 2022 US$ per person | +14.5% |
| 1969 | 1,057 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 935.33 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.5% |
| 1971 | 1,007 constant 2022 US$ per person | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 1,187 constant 2022 US$ per person | +17.9% |
| 1973 | 1,139 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 1,647 constant 2022 US$ per person | +44.6% |
| 1975 | 1,805 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 2,260 constant 2022 US$ per person | +25.2% |
| 1977 | 2,454 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 2,193 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.7% |
| 1979 | 2,170 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 2,037 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.1% |
| 1981 | 1,946 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 1,826 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 1,906 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 1,874 constant 2022 US$ per person | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 1,775 constant 2022 US$ per person | -5.3% |
| 1986 | 1,600 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.9% |
| 1987 | 1,447 constant 2022 US$ per person | -9.6% |
| 1988 | 1,402 constant 2022 US$ per person | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 1,489 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.2% |
| 1990 | 12,116 constant 2022 US$ per person | +713.7% |
| 1991 | 19,220 constant 2022 US$ per person | +58.6% |
| 1992 | 15,429 constant 2022 US$ per person | -19.7% |
| 1993 | 3,725 constant 2022 US$ per person | -75.9% |
| 1994 | 3,540 constant 2022 US$ per person | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 3,707 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 3,305 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.8% |
| 1997 | 2,883 constant 2022 US$ per person | -12.8% |
| 1998 | 2,667 constant 2022 US$ per person | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 2,590 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 2,646 constant 2022 US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 2,734 constant 2022 US$ per person | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 2,546 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.9% |
| 2003 | 2,543 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 2,568 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 2,270 constant 2022 US$ per person | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 2,281 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 2,228 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 2,438 constant 2022 US$ per person | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 2,028 constant 2022 US$ per person | -16.8% |
| 2010 | 1,902 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 1,746 constant 2022 US$ per person | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 1,738 constant 2022 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 1,618 constant 2022 US$ per person | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 1,631 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 1,638 constant 2022 US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 1,751 constant 2022 US$ per person | +6.9% |
| 2017 | 1,831 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 1,917 constant 2022 US$ per person | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 2,085 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 2,117 constant 2022 US$ per person | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 2,293 constant 2022 US$ per person | +8.3% |
| 2022 | 2,060 constant 2022 US$ per person | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person | -2.1% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 726.38 constant 2022 US$ per person, 2.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 191.12 constant 2022 US$ per person, 10.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +713.7% | 1,489 constant 2022 US$ per person | 12,116 constant 2022 US$ per person |
| 1967 | +86.1% | 466.3 constant 2022 US$ per person | 867.65 constant 2022 US$ per person |
| 1993 | -75.9% | 15,429 constant 2022 US$ per person | 3,725 constant 2022 US$ per person |
| 1991 | +58.6% | 12,116 constant 2022 US$ per person | 19,220 constant 2022 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 589.83 constant 2022 US$ per person | 336.95 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,057 constant 2022 US$ per person | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,680 constant 2022 US$ per person | 935.33 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,454 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,730 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,402 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,037 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,918 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,590 constant 2022 US$ per person | 19,220 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,428 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,028 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,734 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,786 constant 2022 US$ per person | 1,618 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,085 constant 2022 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,122 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person | 2,293 constant 2022 US$ per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 4 United Arab Emirates 2,647 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 5 Saudi Arabia 2,621 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 6 Singapore 2,601 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 8 Norway 1,896 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 9 Ukraine 1,660 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
- 10 Oman 1,515 constant 2022 US$ per person compare
More reference data data for Kuwait
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.092 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2888 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0052 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending, per capita in Kuwait?
- Military spending, per capita in Kuwait was 2,017 constant 2022 US$ per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 19,220 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1991.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 336.95 constant 2022 US$ per person in 1961.
- How does Kuwait rank for military spending, per capita?
- Kuwait ranks 7th out of 171 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.